Other Vegetable Seeds

Not available for the 2024 Season The Seed Savers Exchange - Given to SSE by Suzanne Ashworth, who obtained the seeds from the late Dr. John Wyche. Unique yellow tomatillo with contrasting purple blush (1½" diameter), deliciously sweet flavor. Very prolific and easy to grow. 90-100 days from transplant. Characteristics:  Organic Yellow fruits with purple blush Fruits grow to 1-2 inches in diameter Very productive 90-100 days from transplant 25 Seeds Instructions - Culture is very similar to tomatoes. Sow seeds indoors ¼" deep. Transplant outdoors when the soil has warmed. Plants are self-supporting, but sprawl over a large area. Cage or trellis when space is limited. Start indoors 6 weeks before the last frost Germinate 14-21 days Plant 24-36" apart Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability 

Southern Exposure Seed Exchange - 130 days. [Family heirloom from Erlene Melancon in east Texas. Erlene said that she has been spinning green cotton for years and that her grandmother loved using colored cotton in her quilts.] The fibers are light olive green and can be spun off the seed. Harvest the bolls shortly after they open so that the fiber does not fade in the sunlight. Once it is spun and washed it turns yellowish-green. 5 ft. tall plants. Pkt (16-20 seeds)Cannot ship to TX, CA, GA, or SC. Some other southeastern states require a waiver or permit; contact your extension agency for more information. Instructions - Cotton is an annual plant that requires a long, warm growing season to mature properly. Needs full sun. In zones 8-10 it can be sown directly after the last frost. In zones 5-7, treat like tomatoes, start seed indoors and transplant out 4-8 week-old seedlings after last frost. Seed germinates in 7-21 days at 70 degrees F. Plant 18-30 in. apart in rows 5 ft. apart. Plants start flowering in mid-summer. Bolls take a few more months to mature; warm late summer weather is necessary for a good crop. Plants grow to 3-7 ft. tall. Harvest: Wait for bolls to split open before harvesting. (Note: bolls that split open after a frost are damaged and immature.) Seed Savers: Isolate varieties by 1/8 mile for home use, or 1/4 to 1/2 mile or greater for pure seed. Virginia gardeners must acquire a permit to grow cotton. For more information, contact your nearest extension agent. Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of the availability

The Living Seed Company - (Physalis peruviana) This South American golden berry is an amazing superfood that bears an amazing taste, wrapped in a paper lantern. This tender perennial boasts an amazing flavor profile - tart, sweet and oh so good. This is a variety that is from the Andes Mountains and was eaten as far back as the Inca civilization. Can be eaten fresh, dried, frozen, or preserved. The options are endless. Attracts pollinators and easily self sows.  We stock either Organic or Conventional based on availability  Prolific and super sweet Fruits grow to ½ to ¾ inch Fruits have a papery husk Sweet variety that stores well 70 days from transplant 20 Seeds   Instructions - Sow seeds indoors ¼" deep 4-6 weeks before last frost. Plant out when the danger of frost has passed. Excellent results when grown on landscape cloth, which suppresses weeds and makes collecting the fruits easier. Start indoors 6 weeks before the last frost Germinate 14 days Plant 2-3' apart Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability 

The Seed Savers Exchange - This beautifully diverse ornamental gourd mixture contains equal portions of nine Cucurbita pepo varieties of different size, shape, and color: Cou-Tors Hâtive, Orange Warted, Ten Commandments, Nest Egg, Flat Striped, Striped Pear, Orange Ball, Spinning Gourd, and Warted Mixture. Ideal for use in creative fall decorations and grown in many school gardens, this mix is also a great moneymaker for market stands. Characteristics:  90-100 days Conventional Diverse ornamental mix Used for fall decorations Great for market growers and roadside stands Instructions: Sow seeds outdoors after the danger of frost has passed in 12" diameter hills. Space hills 6' apart in all directions. In short-season areas, growth from transplants started indoors 8 weeks in advance. Gourds grow well on fences or garden trellises. Direct Seed: 1" Deep Seeds to Hill: 6-8 Seeds Thin: To 3-4 Plants Light: Full Sun Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability

The Seed Savers Exchange - (aka Mexican Husk Tomato) Prolific bushy plants are 3-4' across and almost as tall. Green 2" fruits are ripe when they burst through husks. Blended with hot peppers to make traditional Mexican green sauce. 70-80 days from transplant.  Characteristics:  Organic Green fruits grow to 2 inches Plants grow to 3-4 feet Fruits are ripe when they burst through the husks Very productive 70-80 days from transplant 25 Seeds Instructions - Culture is very similar to tomatoes. Sow seeds indoors ¼" deep. Transplant outdoors when the soil has warmed. Plants are self-supporting, but sprawl over a large area. Cage or trellis when space is limited.  Start indoors 6 weeks before the last frost Germinate 14-21 days Plant 24-36" apart Full Sun Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability 

Bright white, highly uniform roots with strong yield potential. High Mowing Organic Seeds - A standout in our trials for the striking white of the roots and the high degree of uniformity. More wedge-shaped with a very consistent length. From our collaborators at Bingenheimer Saatgut, a biodynamic seed production company in Germany. Characteristics:  Organic, non-GMO, and open-pollinated High yielding Very uniform 10" long roots 120 days  1/32 oz approx.  Instructions - Turnips and Rutabagas (Brassica rapa and Brassica napus) are cool-season biennials in the Brassicaceae family. Turnips and Rutabagas can tolerate slightly alkaline soil. Deep, loose, well-drained fertile soil with moderate nitrogen levels is best. Plant 3/4" deep  Plant Rows 12-18" apart Thin to 4-10" apart Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability

Renee's Garden - Early bearing and prolific Italian favorite whose elongated dark purple fruits are almost seedless with flesh that is especially mild, nutty flavored, and sweet. Wonderful grilled, baked, or sautéed.  Characteristics:  Organic Heirloom  Cylindrical, shiny, deep violet fruits  Delicious flavor  Long-bearing, highly productive plants    Instructions - In early spring, start indoors about 2 months before outdoor night temperatures are reliably in the 50-55°F (10-13°C) range. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep and 1 inch apart in a container of seed starting mix. Keep moist and warm and provide a strong light source until ready to plant outside. When seedlings are 2 inches tall, transplant them into deeper individual containers. Maintain at 70-75°F (21-24°C). Feed with half-strength fertilizer every 2 weeks until the weather is warm enough to gradually acclimate seedlings to outdoor conditions. Transplant 2 feet apart into rich soil in full sun. Prepare the soil well with aged manure or compost. Plant only robust seedlings with well-developed roots and mulch well. Fertilize plants regularly, at least monthly, throughout the growing season. Pick when fruits have sized up and are firm-fleshed and glossy.  Sow Seeds Indoors: February-March  Days to Germinate: 7-14 days  Transplant Outdoors: April-June  Full sun  Mature Height: 2-2.5 feet  Transplant to Harvest: 70 days  Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers due to availability. 

Southern Exposure Seed Exchange - Grown in Pennsylvania for many years, “Lanco” is thought to stand for Lancaster County. May have come from Asia in the early 1900s.  Large green seeds, mild nutty sweet flavor. Hardy plants may grow 3-4 feet tall if seeded early. Early group V maturity.  Certified Organic  Heirloom  Especially well-suited to the South-East  From Small Farms  Instructions -  Harvest beans when the tops of the plants start to lose their deep green color, but before the leaves start to turn yellow on top. (There will always be a few yellow leaves at the very bottom of the plants, that’s natural.) Don’t wait until the beans fill out all the way to the end of the pods, this variety won’t do that.  After the soil has warmed to 65 degrees F, sow seeds 1 in. deep and 2+ in. apart, in rows 15-30 in. apart.  Quality is best when the pod is plump and bright green, similar to snow peas in color. Easy to grow  The soil must be 65 degrees F warm to germinate  Cooking - Most often served steamed in the shell, but do not eat the shell.  Beans reach their maximum sweetness about a month after flowering. Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of the availability